Malta

Pet Entry Requirements for Malta

Is Quarantine Required for Pets in Malta?

What Additional Information Do I Need for Malta?

• Other information:

  Not specified

• Exporting Resident Pets:

  All dogs, cats and ferrets leaving Malta for another EU Member State or Part 1 or 2 listed third country must be microchipped, vaccinated for rabies (in that order) and wait for 21 days before leaving Malta after primary vaccination. If your pet will visit or enter an unlisted country, a veterinarian in Malta should administer a rabies titer test before leaving Malta if your pet will be returning. Even if your pet is not entering an unlisted country, traveling internationally with the results of this test will ensure a smoother customs clearance in your pet’s destination country. Non-accompanied transports may require export permits.

• What is a Pet Passport?:

  We refer to a pet passport as a collection of documents that conform to Malta pet import requirements for dogs, cats, and ferrets entering this country from non-EU countries.This term is not to be confused with an official EU Pet Passport issued in the European Union for EU-resident pets. Your pet’s passport to enter Malta will include proof of microchip, current rabies vaccination, rabies titer test (some countries), and one of the following: An official EU or NI Pet Passport (resident EU or Northern Ireland pets)An EU Health Certificate (non-EU-resident pets)A government-issued Pet Passport from a part 1 listed third country (see EU COUNTRY CLASSIFICATIONS)An Animal Health Certificate when entering Malta from Great Britain (England, Scotland or Wales). UK Pet Passports are no longer accepted as a substitute for an Animal Health Certificate.

• Entering Malta with a Pet:

  Pets entering Malta by air from outside the European Union must do so at international airport at Luqa. Pets can arrive in the cabin, as checked baggage or as air cargo. In all cases, pets must travel in a crate or carrier in accordance with the International Air Transport Association. Prenotification must be provided a minimum of 48 hours prior to arrival. Related:Is your pet’s crate IATA-compliant? Pets should enter Malta directly or transit through another EU Member State. If your pet transits through a high-rabies country, then a Transit Declaration will be required stating that your pet has had no contact with rabies-carryinganimals and remained secured within the airplane or airport. Note: If your pet has a layover in an EU Member State in its itinerary, then additional requirements will apply. All domestic dogs and cats must be free of evidence of disease communicable to humans when examined at the port of entry to Malta. If your dog or cat is not in apparent good health, further examination by a licensed veterinarian may be required at importer expense.

• Flying to Malta with a Pet:

  Flights to Malta should be direct or transit through alisted third countryor anotherEU Member Stateif possible*. If your pet transits through anunlisted country, then a Transit Declaration will be required. The declaration must state that your pet has had no contact with rabies-carrying animals and remained secured within the airplane or airport. *Note: If your pet has a layover in an EU Member State in its itinerary, then additional requirements will apply.

• Find a Licensed Veterinarian:

  Before beginning any pet export procedure, make sure your veterinarian is approved by the governing veterinarian authority in your pet’s country of origin. Your veterinarian should work for or is licensed by the agency of the government that is responsible for the movement of live animals.

• Malta Pet Import Requirements:

  All steps required to conform to regulations to import a dog, cat or ferret to Malta must be completed in the origination country. Steps 1-8 should be followed in the order given.

• Breeds Banned from Import to Malta:

  Malta does not have breed-based dangerous dog laws or bans. The dog owner is responsible for any injury or damage incurred by their dog. The imports of a wolf hybrid or Savannah cat, require advice from the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency before travel.

• Quarantine for Pets Entering Malta:

  There will be no quarantine imposed on your pet when entering Malta if pet import regulations detailed here are met. If your pet does not conform to the regulations as stated below, it will be subject to quarantine if facilities are available, returned to the origination country, or euthanized. The importer will be responsible all costs involved.

• Importing Other Pet Animals to Malta:

  There are no rabies requirements for other species of rodents, rabbits, birds, ornamental fish, invertebrates, amphibians and reptiles imported to Malta from other EU states as well as Andorra, Switzerland, Croatia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway and San Marino. However, pet rabbits and rodents imported to Malta from any other non-EU rabies-controlled country will be quarantined for four months. Birds, invertebrates, tropical fish, reptiles, amphibia, mammals such as rodents and rabbits should have a health certificate to enter Malta. Pet owners are strongly advised to seek further information from the relevantauthority of their country and/or that of the destination country.

• Importing Puppies, Kittens and Kits to Malta:

  Puppies, kittens and kits must not be vaccinated for rabies under 12 weeks of age. Unvaccinated pets are not permitted to enter Malta from any country until they are microchipped, fully vaccinated for rabies and conform to steps listed in these instructions. The minimum age for import to Malta from EU Member States and Part 1 or 2 Listed Third Countries is 15 weeks of age. The minimum age of import to Malta from an unlisted country is 7 months of age. Related: More information ontransporting a puppy.

• Animals Eligible for These Pet Import Requirements:

  These rules apply to the transport of domestic dogs, cats and ferrets including assistance and service animals. Unless 5th generation removed from the pedigree, wolf hybrids, Savannah and Bengal cats cannot be imported under these regulations. Owners of other types of pets (amphibia, reptiles, birds, rabbits, rodents) covered by these regulations should refer to IMPORTING OTHER PET ANIMALS TO MALTA below.

• Importing Pets to Malta from Malaysia and Australia:

  If your pet is entering Malta from peninsular Malaysia, the following additional conditions must be met: Your pet has had no contact with pigs during at least the past 60 days prior to export.Your pet has not lived in a place where cases of Nipah disease have been confirmed during the past 60 days.Your pet has been tested with negative a result to an IgG capture ELISA test carried out in a laboratory approved for testing for Nipah disease viruses within 10 days of export. Cats may only enter Malta from Australia under the condition that they have not lived in areas where cases of Hendra disease have been confirmed during the past 60 days.

• Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES):

  Importers should verify that their pet is not protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). This is important if your pet is not a dog or cat, and very important if it is a turtle or parrot. You will need to apply for additional permits if this is the case. Over 180 countries participate and enforce CITES regulations. Related:Search the CITES databaseorSearch the Species+ database Related:Learn more about CITES

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